What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ledyard has the most expensive homes ($249k median).

Alabama has the most kids (27.2% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ledyard	Alabama
People
Population	1,811Lowest	1,831Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	31±6.9Lowest 22% below NY	34.8±4.2Highest 13% below NY
	Alabama and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.2%±8.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Alabama and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9%	9.1%±1.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	30.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	24.6%±2.9Highest NY: 7%	6.7%±4.9Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,731±$12kHighest about the NY average	$81,833±$11kLowest 5% below NY
	Ledyard and Alabama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$249,200±$22kHighest 41% below NY	$145,600±$14kLowest 66% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,276±$317Highest 21% below NY	$775±$141Lowest 52% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,864Highest 41% below NY	$3,444Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±18.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	24.7%±6.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Alabama and Ledyard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.9%Highest NY: 14%	7.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest same as NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 37% below NY	30 minHighest 7% below NY
Work from home	6.4%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%	5.2%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Ledyard and Alabama are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.